FOR over ten years, the village took them to its heart and A39 travellers regularly paused for a chat or to offer a succulent carrot. But this week, the “Dunster donkeys” were nowhere to be seen.

Dylan, Jennifer and Bernie, regularly surrounded by friends at the five-barred gate of the field next to the bus stop at the end of Dunster Steep, disappeared on Monday.

And it has caused so much concern that owners Mary Ruane-Morris and David Colley have put up a notice saying that the popular threesome are alive and well and enjoying a happy retirement.

“Everyone loves them and they have an enormous fan club,” Mary said.

“It was a dreadful decision to have to let them go, but we are downsizing the house, moving to Bristol, and we just couldn’t take them with us.”

The notice explains that Dylan, Bernie and Jennifer, who arrived at Mary and David’s Dunster Steep home shortly after they moved in 15 years ago, have been accepted by the internationally-known donkey sanctuary near Sidmouth, Devon.

Now attached to the five-barred gate, the notice reads: “Farewell. We are so sad to be leaving our friends and Dunster.

“We are going to the sanctuary at Sidmouth where we will be with other donkeys and very kind people.”

Read the full story in tomorrow’s Free Press.